My Country 'Tis of Thee

June 29, 2026

A kindergarten teacher was showing her class pictures of national flags in an encyclopedia. She pointed to the American flag and asked, “What flag is this?” A little girl proudly answered, “That’s the flag of our country.” “Very good,” the teacher said. “And what is the name of our country?” The girl replied confidently, “‘Tis of thee!”

I have heard so many Americans celebrating how much they enjoy seeing our International World Cup fans share their love and amazement with our great country. Here are a few of my favorites expanded for entertainment purposes.

Only in America can you pull off the highway into a travel center the size of a small European village, where a cheerful beaver mascot greets you at the door, and you can buy everything from brisket sandwiches to camo hoodies to fresh fudge, all while filling up your tank. Buc-ee’s isn’t just a gas station; it’s a destination.

Only in America can you walk into a Waffle House at 2 a.m., watch the cook flip hash browns while the jukebox plays classic country. No matter the hour or the weather, the lights are on, the coffee is hot, and the staff treats you like you’re family, even if you’re covered in road dust and barely coherent.

Only in America can you pay $60 for a membership card that lets you buy a 50-pound bag of rice, a 48-roll pack of toilet paper, and enough Kirkland brand snacks to survive the apocalypse, all while enjoying a hot dog and soda combo for only $1.50. Costco isn’t shopping. It’s a lifestyle.

Only in America do we celebrate freedom by eating a 72-ounce steak in Amarillo just to say we did it. Only in America can you drive through a pharmacy, a bank, a coffee shop, and a car wash, all without ever getting out of your vehicle. Only in America can you get free refills. One fellow thought he would get 1000 refills, Diet Coke, of course.

And only in America can visitors from around the world look at all this beautiful, messy, excessive, generous chaos and say with a grin, “You people are crazy… but we love it.”

Yes, America is a wonderfully unique place. But how did this nation become so powerful in such a short period of time? The answer lies in its foundations.

On June 28, 1787, during a difficult impasse at the Constitutional Convention, Benjamin Franklin rose to speak. The elderly statesman reminded the delegates of their need for divine help. Quoting Psalm 127:1, he said, “Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.” He urged the assembly to begin each session with prayer, acknowledging that “God governs in the affairs of men.” That moment helped rescue the convention from collapse and paved the way for the writing of the United States Constitution.

Patrick Henry, famous for his cry “Give me liberty or give me death,” understood this truth deeply. In his last will and testament, after distributing his earthly possessions to his children, he added these powerful words: “I have now given everything I own to my children. There is one more thing I wish I could give them and that is Christ. Because if they have everything I gave them and don’t have Christ, they have nothing.”

These men knew that America’s greatness would not come from human wisdom alone. It would come from dependence upon God. The same principle holds true for us today. As individuals and as a nation, we thrive when we build on the foundation of faith in Jesus Christ.

This Independence Day, let us celebrate the freedoms we enjoy. But let us also remember the Source of those freedoms. True liberty is not just freedom from something, it is freedom for something: freedom to love God and to love our neighbor, freedom to live with purpose and integrity, freedom to build lives and communities that honor the One who gave us life.

As we enjoy cookouts, fireworks, and time with family, may we pause to thank God for His many blessings on this land. And may we renew our commitment to be a people who trust Him, obey Him, and seek to live out the love of Christ in our homes, our communities, and our nation.

What does “freedom under God” mean to you personally? How can you express gratitude for America’s blessings this Independence Day? Finally, I hope you will find a time on July 4 to read the Declaration of Independence to those you are celebrating with this year, and may God continue to bless America. (To learn more about Al Earley or read previous articles, see www.lagrangepres.org. You can purchase my book, My Faith Journal, at Amazon.com, a compilation of 366 articles as a daily devotional. Check out my podcast on YouTube, called “My Faith Journey”).